If you’ve ridden a century or two—and liked it—you’re probably ready to tackle a double century. But the event itself may be the easy part: Doing a double requires meticulous preparation and logging lots of extra training miles. Here’s your guide.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK
Study the route, ride reports, and support information from the organizer. Use your training rides to test your drinks and food, along with the clothing you plan to wear, to find out what works. “Riders come in with miles in their legs but aren’t prepared to deal with cramps, hot spots, and problems with drinking,” says Jim Cummins, executive director of the Dirty Kanza, a 200-mile ride through the remote Flint Hills of ­Kansas.

GET COMFORTABLE
Take care of nagging pains before the event. You may need to adjust ­your saddle, handlebar, and cleat positions. Any discomfort you feel on these contact points at mile 80 will be magnified by mile 120. Switch to durable tires to minimize your risk of flatting, and if your event is hilly, consider a compact, triple, or even a 34/27 setup to help you spin with less effort.

COME UP WITH A CARRYING STRATEGY
Figure out what to stow where in your jersey pockets. Anything you’ll want while rolling, such as food or a camera, should go in the pocket you are most comfortable accessing with one hand. You might also want to try different ways to carry additional fluids, such as a frame bag or hydration pack.

VARY YOUR TRAINING
Include hills, tempo efforts, and sprints, along with slow, long, and short rides. And remember to take a rest day or two every week.

Finish Strong
Event-day strategies to keep you happy in the saddle
— Start slow and maintain a consistent pace.
— Ride in a paceline to conserve ­energy.
— Limit breaks to no more than 10 minutes so your muscles don’t feel tight when you remount.
— Get up out of the saddle from time to time.
— Plan to eat about 300 calories an hour, including plenty of easy-to-digest carbohydrates in the form of sports drinks, bars, and gels.

Essential Gear for the Long Haul
— Lights and spare batteries
— Arm and leg warmers, cap, gloves, and vest
— A chain breaker, tire levers, pump or CO2, and a hex wrench sized for every bolt on your bike
— Two to three spare tubes
— Money, ID, insurance info, sunscreen, and phone